Ibukun's Blog

Ebola virus first emerged in 1976 in outbreaks of Ebola hemorrhagic fever in  Zaire  and  Sudan . The strain of Ebola that broke out in Zaire has one of the highest  case fatality rates  of any human virus, roughly 90%. The name of the disease originated from one of those first recorded outbreaks in 1976 in  Yambuku , Democratic Republic of the Congo (then Zaire) which lies on the  Ebola River . The Philippines and the United States had no previous cases of infection, and upon further isolation it was concluded to be another strain of Ebola or a new filovirus of Asian origin, and named  Reston ebolavirus  (REBOV) after the location of the incident. Some scientists also believe that the  Plague of Athens , which wiped out about a third of its inhabitants during the  Peloponnesian War , may have been caused by Ebola. However, these studies are conflicting, and point to other possible diseases such as typhoid.

A yet-to-be-identified number of residents might have died in an explosion in a “busy area” of Potiskum, Yobe State, on Tuesday night. Details of the bombing is still sketchy but our correspondent said many people might have been killed as the area where the explosion went off plays host to a lot of people every day. Earlier on Monday, suspected Boko Haram members had sacked a military base in the Birni Yadi area before killing no fewer than eight people. The terrorists reportedly blew off a bridge linking Damaturu, the state capital, through Birni Yadi with Borno and Adamawa states. Details later…

THE chairman of Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State has disclosed that the mace of the council’s legislative arm could no longer be found after thugs in their score invaded the secretariat of the council on Thursday. The thugs were said to have stormed the council headquarters, located at Oba’s Square in Benin, the Edo State capital, to forcefully unseat the leader of the legislative arm, Honourable Monday Oboigba. The Nigerian Tribune gathered that they were said to have received the support of four out of the 12 lawmakers in the council, who were pushing for a change in the composition of the council legislative arm after the defection of some notable politicians in the council to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the All Progressives Congress (APC). Sources at the legislative arm disclosed that the development was sequel to a motion of impeachment moved by the councilor representing ward 10, Mr Dan Ize-Iyamu and supported by the only PDP councilor in the as...

The Presidency has explained why it has been slow to rescue the over 200 schoolgirls that were abducted by terrorists in Chibok, Borno State over 100 days ago. While speaking at Chatham House lecture series held at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said “the need to avoid a repeat of the 2004 experience when 300 children were killed in an attempt by Russians to free hostages held by Chechens in the North Caucasus region of Russia was responsible for the seemingly slow process of freeing the Chibok girls.” Okupe, who spoke on the topic titled, “Priorities and Progress in Nigeria: Imperatives for stability and Growth,” on Thursday, said the military and other security agencies as well as their international allies are capable of rescuing the kidnapped girls from their abductors but would rather weigh all options to ensure that they were brought back alive. The presidential ai...

  Benjamin Ifada | credits: Olaleye Aluko The Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Lagos State Police Command has arrested a suspected fake ex-soldier, Benjamin Ifada, who allegedly contacted a police division to buy two pistols for the sum of N300,000. PUNCH Metro  learnt that 54-year-old Ifada was first apprehended by the Idimu Police Division, from where the Commissioner of Police, Umar Manko, ordered that his case be transferred to the SARS where he was being investigated by the operatives. Our correspondent further learnt that Ifada had been using the appellation, Captain Benjamin Ifada (retd.), and claimed to be with the British Army Regiment Home Office before his arrest. The police said the suspected fake soldier usually visited the Idimu Police Division, and tried to gain recognition as a retired military officer. However, it was gathered that Ifada allegedly approached the armourer in the division, and said he needed to buy some AK-47 rifles. The divis...

An unidentified woman was killed and eight others were injured after a   high calibre improvised device was today, Thursday, July 24, detonated inside the New Road Motor Park located at Sabon Gari, Kano State, leaving 5 people  dead. However,  the police authorities claim that only 1 body was found at the scene. The motor park, located in a predominantly Christian area, is also reported to have been rocked by at least four explosions previously. The blasts occurred on Igbo Road, Enugu Road and New Road, opposite Ado Bayero Square. The latest attack is coming barely a year after a bomb blast killed no fewer than 20 people in the same area, at a drinking joint. The area is which consists of mainly foreigners from other part of the country,who are predominantly christians. Boko Haram had claimed responsibility for coordinated suicide blasts at a bus park in Sabon Gari in March 2014 that killed about 22 people. Thursday’s blast makes it t...

Amateur enthusiasts are creating planes and helicopters out of recycled parts and little training. So why aren’t countries doing more to harness this talent? Its propellers are powered by an engine that once milled animal feed. Aluminium bars, bolts and plastic sheeting bought from a local shop and held together with cheap gum make up the frame. A large crowd applauds enthusiastically as young farmhand Onesmus Mwangi publically unveils the 25-kilogramme (55-lb) helicopter he has built from salvaged scrap in his backyard in the village of Magomano, Kenya. And for good reason. Mwangi, 20, dropped out of school at the age of 12 and has no formal technical training. His labour of love took up every spare waking moment outside his farm job for over seven months, not to mention his savings of 57,000 Kenyan Shillings ($650) – about a year-and-a-half’s salary for him. He is, of course, not the first person to build a helicopter. We can’t even be sure his machine actually flies. The engine...

Algeria’s national airline, Air Algerie, says it has lost contact with one of its planes flying from Burkina Faso. Contact was lost about 50 minutes after take-off from Ouagadougou, the airline is quoted by Algeria’s state news agency as saying. The passenger airliner, last seen at 0155 GMT, was bound for the Algerian capital Algiers, it added. Flight AH 5017 had 110 passengers and six crew on board, officials said. “In keeping with procedures, Air Algerie has launched its emergency plan,” Air Algerie officials, quoted by APS news agency, said. The plane is chartered from Spanish airline Swiftair.  Swiftair said that the aircraft was an MD83 and that they were unable to establish contact with the plane. The plane was originally scheduled to land at 0510 local time, it said. Flight AH 5017 flies the Ouagadougou-Algiers route four times a week, AFP news agency reported.

The Head doctor leading the fight against Ebola in Sierra Leone has been affected and is being treated for the same virus. Sheik Umar Khan, who tested positive has been admitted in Kailahun Government Hospital in the Eastern district of Sierra Leone. Khan, a Sierra Leonean virologist credited with treating more than 100 Ebola victims, has been transferred to a treatment ward run by Medicines Sans Frontiers, according to a statement released late on Tuesday by the Sirleaf Ellen-Johnson’s office. The Health Minister, Miatta Kargbo, who was in tears when she heard the news called Khan a “ National Hero”, and promised to “do anything and everything in my power to ensure he survives”. Khan told Reuters late in June that he was worried about contracting Ebola. “I am afraid for my life, I must say, because I cherish my life,” he said in an interview, showing no signs of ill health. Three days ago, three nurses working in the same Ebola treatment centre along...

United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday reiterated his call for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls, more than 100 days after. Ki-moon expressed his full support for the worldwide vigils which took place yesterday. “I stand in solidarity with all those taking part in vigils today to demonstrate that the world has not forgotten the girls who were so cruelly abducted from their school 100 days ago,” said Mr. Ban in a message. “I repeat my call for their immediate release and for an end to discrimination, intimidation and violence against girls whose only wish is to gain an education. Only by shielding them from harm and enabling them to realize their full potential can we usher in a better future for all,” he added. Vigils were held yesterday around the world to demonstrate solidarity with the girls and their families. Supporters in Africa, Asia, Europe and the United States organised a series of campaigns, including lighting the candles, under the ba...

President Goodluck Jonathan directed yesterday the police and security agencies to apprehend the perpetrator of yesterday’s attack on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna. The President’s directive was announced in a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati. The statement said: “President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan condemns the bombings in Kaduna today which appeared to have targeted former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari and prominent Islamic cleric Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi. “President Jonathan denounces the dastardly targeting of the prominent political and religious leaders by terrorists and enemies of the nation in an odious attempt to inflame passions and exacerbate disquiet, fear, insecurity and sectional divisions in the country. “While thanking God Almighty for sparing the lives of General Buhari and Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, the President extends sincere condolences to the families of those who were sadly killed by the bomb blasts. “President Jonathan also commiser...

The unfortunate event, clearly an assassination attempt, came from a fast moving vehicle that made many attempts to overtake my security car, but was blocked by the escort vehicle.We reached the market area of Kawo where he took advantage of our slowing down and attempted to ram into my car. He instantly detonated the bomb, which destroyed all the three cars in our convoy. Unfortunately, when I came out of my vehicle, I saw bodies littered around…  Twin bomb explosions in Kaduna, the headquarters of the old northern Nigeria killed scores of people yesterday. Former Head of State General Muhamadu Buhari, whose convoy seemed to have been the target of the second explosion, escaped unhurt. The Gen. who on Sunday warned President Goodluck Jonathan on the state of the nation, said it was an assassination attempt, a “clearly targeted bomb attack”. The first explosion was on Alkali by Isa Kaita Road, where a suspected suicide bomber on a motorcycle, who is believed to be...

For about three hours yesterday, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) grilled former Adamawa State Deputy Governor Bala Ngillari on alleged mismanagement of funds during the administration of sacked Governor Murtala Nyako. The EFCC said it might declare Nyako wanted as it had been difficult to serve the ex-governor a letter of invitation. The anti-graft agency said it had defreezed the state’s accounts to enable the administration of Acting Governor Umaru Fintiri to take off smoothly. A source said Ngillari arrived at the commission at 10am and left few minutes past 1pm. The source said Ngilari was questioned on his security votes and his role in the alleged misappropriation of funds. Nyako was indicted by a seven-man investigation panel headed by Buba Kaigama. Of the 20 allegations, the House of Assembly found Nyako ‘guilty’ of 16 before impeaching him on July 15. Some of the allegations were alleged diversion of N2.3billion meant for worke...

The Registrar of Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) in Abuja, Augustine Ebisike, has said Nigerians spend about N1.3 trillion yearly to treat malaria because of the failure of government at all levels to address environmental health issues. The registrar said at least every Nigerian treats malaria three times a year at the average cost of N3,000. He noted that, if such money was multiplied by 170 million people, the bill is on the high side and unacceptable. Ebisike spoke yesterday at the fourth Kaduna State annual conference/scientific workshop, tagged:  Dubagari 2014 . The registrar indicted governments for their alleged insincerity in the campaign against malaria. According to him, governments would have dealt with mosquitoes, the major cause of the ailment, instead of rolling away malaria programme. Ebisike said the programme was designed to siphon public fund. He said: “If there is no mosquito in Nigeria today, would we hav...

The authorities of the University of Ibadan have expelled two students and rusticated five for various offences. 11 others were reprimanded. A report issued by the institution’s Registrar, Mr. Olu Olukoya and published in the University Bulletin, said the decision was the outcome of the meeting held by the Central Student Disciplinary Committee (CSDC). It said the offences   committed by the students included gross misconduct, pilfering and examination malpractice. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the rusticated students would stay out of the institution for two semesters.

some of the athletes who will be representing Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow are crying over their condition since arriving in Scotland over the weekend. Blessing Okagbare (Olympics medalist) With the Games set to kick off on Wednesday, delegates from the participating countries are already on ground and could be seen on the streets of Glasgow, especially around the games village, rightly fitted with track suits bearing their national colours. This is in contrast to the Nigerian athletes, who confirmed that they have not been supplied with kits and as a result they are dressed in different colours. Only those participating in the track and field events have kits, from other events they participated in. Others have no kits says, a senior Nigerian athlete at the Games. “It is embarrassing seeing Nigerian athletes in tatters,” he continued, adding “some are even wearing bathroom slippers." “The athletics team was lucky to have their own personal kits ...

EVENTS 1945  -  A B-25 bomber crashes into the Empire State Building killing 14 poeple 636  -  Arabs gain control of most of Palestine from Byzantine Empire 685  -  John V begins his reign as Catholic Pope 1148  -  Crusaders attack Damascus 1215  -  Frederik II crowns himself Roman Catholic king 1253  -  Jews are expelled from Vienne France by order of Pope Innocent IV 1298  -  Rindfleisch Persecutions - Jewish community in Wurzburg Germany massacred 1431  -  G Cesarini opens Counsil of Basel (Ferrara/Florence) 1453  -  Battle at Gavere: Philip the Good beats Gentse rebellion 1532  -  Emperor Charles V and the Schmalkaldic League sign Peace of Nuremberg 1540  -  Turkey recognizes Janos Sigismund Zapolyai as vassal-king of Hungary 1558  -  Battle of Grevelingen: Gen/earl Lamoraal of Egmont beat France 1572  -  William of Orange's troops occupy Roermond o...